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August 11, 2008

What Parts of a Face Most Influence First Impressions?

What make us wary or trusting withinseconds of seeing a stranger? Surprisingly few factors according to a recent study by two Princeton psychology researchers. We are most likely to trust someone who has, “a U-shaped mouth and eyes that form an almost surprised look.” At the other extreme are faces that seem angry. In those faces, “the edges of the mouth curl down and the eyebrows point down at the center.

Also, upon first meeting someone, almost instantly we decide whether someone is dominant or weak. A face that resembles a baby's is judged as the least dominant. It has a larger distance between the eyes and between the eyebrows than other faces. Dominant appearing faces tended to have, “a squared, broad chin.”

• Anywhere in the world, people are most attracted to faces that are symmetrical.

When feeling these gut reactions, it is often difficult for me to remember that, as Alex Todorov notes, "The link between facial features and character may be tenuous at best, but that doesn't stop our minds from sizing other people up at a glance.” Yet it must be comforting for Todorov to know he has a face that engenders trust.

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What Parts of a Face Most Influence First Impressions?

What make us wary or trusting withinseconds of seeing a stranger? Surprisingly few factors according to a recent study by two Princeton psychology researchers. We are most likely to trust someone who has, “a U-shaped mouth and eyes that form an almost surprised look.” At the other extreme are faces that seem angry. In those faces, “the edges of the mouth curl down and the eyebrows point down at the center.

Also, upon first meeting someone, almost instantly we decide whether someone is dominant or weak. A face that resembles a baby's is judged as the least dominant. It has a larger distance between the eyes and between the eyebrows than other faces. Dominant appearing faces tended to have, “a squared, broad chin.”

• Anywhere in the world, people are most attracted to faces that are symmetrical.

When feeling these gut reactions, it is often difficult for me to remember that, as Alex Todorov notes, "The link between facial features and character may be tenuous at best, but that doesn't stop our minds from sizing other people up at a glance.” Yet it must be comforting for Todorov to know he has a face that engenders trust.